Roundguard

Roundguard's genre innovations are novel, but they fail to distract from poor roguelike progression and a general lack of depth. It's a whimsical arcadey diversion, but not much more than that.

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Roundguard is a charming roguelike game that combines elements of Peggle and dungeon crawling. Players control a hero who bounces and ricochets around colorful levels, defeating enemies and collecting loot. With its randomized levels, permanent upgrades, and strategic gameplay, Roundguard offers an addictive and replayable experience for fans of both genres.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

Reviews

75%

Audience ScoreBased on 639 reviews

gameplay48 positive mentions

story6 negative mentions

Roundguard combines Peggle-style gameplay with roguelike elements, creating a fun and engaging experience.
The game features charming graphics and humorous writing, making it enjoyable for casual play.
Each character has unique abilities, adding variety to gameplay and encouraging different strategies.

The game can feel overly reliant on RNG, leading to frustrating moments where skillful play is punished.
Content feels limited after a few hours, with repetitive gameplay and a lack of diverse enemy types and bosses.
The health management system can be punishing, making runs feel unfair and detracting from the overall enjoyment.

gameplay
136 mentions
35 % positive mentions
60 % neutral mentions
4 % negative mentions
The gameplay is a blend of peggle-style mechanics and roguelike elements, offering an engaging and addictive experience that is easy to pick up yet challenging to master. While the core mechanics are fun and the character upgrades add variety, some players feel the game lacks depth and variety in enemies and environments, leading to a sense of repetitiveness over time. Overall, it provides a charming and humorous experience, making it a solid choice for newcomers to the roguelike genre, though it may not satisfy those seeking extensive replayability or complexity.
- “It's fun right from the start, but you also unlock a ton of new mechanics as you play, making future runs have a lot more to them - I feel like a lot of roguelike games could learn from this design.”
- “There's a really great amount of depth to the game, and the peggle-style gameplay is exciting and really satisfying.”
- “This game is a great mix of the basic gameplay elements of peggle combined with different roguelike/RNG elements and active skills, which makes it possible that each run feels unique and is an experience on its own.”
- “I'm really trying to like this game, but something just feels very broken when a core mechanic -- hitting monsters to damage them -- is actually the fastest way to insta-die.”
- “The largest problem Roundguard faces is the lack of polish and finesse to the main mechanic of the game - shooting the ball.”
- “I couldn't care less about the story, and the gameplay is not at all what's promised: it feels more like pachinko (a Japanese slot machine) than pinball: you launch a ball, and you watch it bounce off obstacles.”
replayability
66 mentions
33 % positive mentions
61 % neutral mentions
6 % negative mentions
The game's replayability is a mixed bag, with some players praising its rogue-like elements, daily challenges, and unlockable modifiers that enhance the experience. However, many reviewers note a lack of variety in content, such as monsters and skills, leading to a feeling of repetitiveness after a few runs. Overall, while there are enjoyable aspects that encourage replay, the game may not sustain long-term interest for all players.
- “Fantastic expansion on the Peggle game idea with lots of replay value, due to the rogue-like elements and modifiers.”
- “Though the achievements and daily/weekly challenges give another great replayability by having to play in different and unique ways.”
- “It's gorgeous, completely replayable, and it has that 'just one more round' quality you so desire in a game such as this.”
- “Apart from that, I highly recommend you give it a shot if you can get it in a bundle or for cheap, but keep in mind that the replayability factor is low because of how samey it feels after a while.”
- “Though a fun little game, the amount of replayability is awful. Every character will show you all equipment and skills in a single run, and after running every character once, I felt like I have seen all there is to the game. So if you need to fill an afternoon, it might be good for you, but if you're looking for a lengthy dive into a roguelike, this isn't it.”
- “The game lacks replayability - some builds are just strictly better and bosses don't change, but it's fun while it lasts.”
graphics
42 mentions
33 % positive mentions
60 % neutral mentions
7 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are generally described as charming and colorful, with a cute art style that grows on players over time. While many appreciate the polished visuals and humorous dialogue, some critiques highlight a lack of uniqueness in stage designs compared to similar games like Peggle, leading to a perception that the graphics could be improved for a more satisfying experience. Overall, the aesthetic is seen as endearing, though opinions vary on its execution and depth.
- “I loved the art style, soundtrack, the progression keeps me wondering 'so now how do I fit this into my build' and it's simply great.”
- “From its art style to its soundtracks, Roundguard is incredibly charming.”
- “Very polished sound and visuals, unique characters and abilities which can be upgraded as you go through your run, lots of charm and humorous dialogue.”
- “Sadly this game isn't as good as Peggle because the stages lack the defining characteristics, such as those super satisfying long arcs that you could shoot a ball through and score huge points, or fun designs made on a unique background that capitalizes on the fanciful art style.”
- “Roundguard is more focused on the enemies and roguelike elements which it does pretty well, but each stage doesn't have the uniqueness that you would expect, and the art style is kind of ugly overall... so if you want to play Peggle I suggest replaying that instead; it's only a dollar when it's on sale.”
- “For this price, it could have been dialed up a little bit graphically, to be honest.”
music
28 mentions
29 % positive mentions
61 % neutral mentions
11 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally praised for its charm and catchiness, with many players finding it enjoyable enough to not require external playlists during gameplay. While some reviewers note that the soundtrack can become repetitive over time, particularly the level clear music, it remains a highlight for its upbeat and cheerful sound design. Overall, the music complements the game's art style and progression, though a few players feel it lacks variation and some sound effects detract from the experience.
- “The level clear music that plays every time you beat a level, that you will hear a thousand times, it probably should become annoying or repetitive, but it's somehow still one of the greatest things I've ever heard.”
- “From its art style to its soundtracks, Roundguard is incredibly charming.”
- “Victory music feels like a dance party in your heart.”
- “Mix that with rather bland music, some (to me) horrible sound effects from aiming to character sounds and just too much tell instead of show in a game designed for you to replay is just not something I am personally a big fan of.”
- “The sound design is nice and cheerful, the music is catchy but maybe lacking in variation eventually.”
- “The music gets a little stale but it's not a deal breaker.”
humor
20 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The humor in Roundguard is described as charming and clever, with moments of hilarity that enhance the gameplay experience. While some players found the humor to be hit-or-miss, many appreciated the witty writing and nerdy jokes, contributing to the game's overall fun and engaging atmosphere. The combination of unique characters, polished visuals, and humorous dialogue adds to its appeal, making it enjoyable for short gaming sessions.
- “The game is great for short sessions like many roguelites, and the writing is funny at times.”
- “It's charming, funny, easy to get into, and clever with its mechanics.”
- “Very polished sound and visuals, unique characters and abilities which can be upgraded as you go through your run, lots of charm and humorous dialogue.”
story
18 mentions
17 % positive mentions
50 % neutral mentions
33 % negative mentions
The story in Roundguard is presented as a light-hearted cabaret show, featuring character banter before each level, which adds a sense of progression compared to similar games. However, many players feel the narrative is minimal and not engaging, with some expressing indifference towards it, while others appreciate its charm amidst the gameplay. Overall, the story is seen as a secondary element, overshadowed by the game's mechanics and additional missions that some find unnecessary.
- “Roundguard's story is presented as a sort of dinner cabaret show with a bit of on-stage banter between the characters before each level.”
- “I like the pinball action and the story is cool as well.”
- “It's still more or less a gauntlet of levels, but it feels more like a story or progress (or gameshow) than Peggle did.”
- “I couldn't care less about the story, and the gameplay is not at all what's promised: it feels more like pachinko (a Japanese slot machine) than pinball: you launch a ball, and you watch it bounce off obstacles.”
- “There's extra missions now that unnecessarily make the game more difficult when there should be other content additions.”
- “Roundguard's 'story' is presented as a sort of dinner cabaret show with a bit of on-stage banter between the characters before each level.”
grinding
6 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game tedious and boring, often hindered by intrusive tutorials. Additionally, the rewards from the "wheel of wonders" are deemed unsatisfactory, making the effort to farm gold feel pointless, especially since key relics that enhance gameplay are locked behind this grinding.
- “It's tedious and boring, and the constantly popping up tutorials are really disturbing.”
- “Relics that you can activate to add challenge to runs are locked behind grinding, which seems strange.”
- “The 'wheel of wonders' is garbage; its rewards are garbage, making farming gold during a run seem almost pointless.”
emotional
4 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The game is described as charming and wholesome, making it an excellent entry point for new players. Reviewers express a sense of enjoyment and anticipation for continued play, highlighting its fun and emotionally uplifting qualities.
- “It's charming and wholesome, and would probably serve as an excellent entry point for new players.”
- “A wholesomely fun experience, and I expect to be playing it for quite a while!”
stability
2 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The game demonstrates excellent stability, performing well on both Linux desktops and Steam Decks without any reported issues.
- “The game runs great both on my Linux desktop and on my Steam Deck.”
optimization
2 mentions
150 % positive mentions
-50 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The game features four distinct characters, each offering unique gameplay mechanics and strategies that enhance the overall optimization experience, keeping players engaged and entertained.
- “There are four different characters that play quite differently, each with their own strategies for optimized play that keep you entertained.”
- “The game offers a variety of characters, each providing unique strategies that enhance the optimization of gameplay and keep it engaging.”
- “With four distinct characters, the game encourages players to explore different strategies for optimized play, ensuring a dynamic and entertaining experience.”